back to the big easy

a storm over the city
almost 4 years and places still look like this.

well, i'm moving back to new orleans.

yep, that's right.

well so as you know, i took on a special ed teaching position at keller and was getting geared up for that. while in new orleans, i was looking at job opportunities but one door after another closed so i thought, fort worth is where i'm still supposed to be. a few months back, i had applied to several schools in new orleans, but nothing materialized. i had forgotten all about the fact that i had sent my resume to a charter school website. i got an email thursday night from a principal at a charter school in new orleans asking if i'd be interested in an autistic teaching position. i figured it couldn't hurt to find out more- i was already down there!- so i met with him on friday in what ended up being an interview with him and an assistant principal. long story short, i took the job! the principal is so nice, and the job sounds challenging and rewarding all at the same time. my first day is next friday! 

well so obviously i need a place to live. so friday night and saturday morning i looked on craigslist and the classifieds, found a couple that looked hopeful, and called one of the classifieds. i went to that one, walked in, and it was perfect. ok now i don't know if you guys knew about the last place i lived in down there, but let me tell you it was interesting. one window unit in living room, bedroom had fan but no window unit, and my "office" had no fan or window unit period. in other words, it was ridiculously hot. to make matters worse, there were fleas, termites and cockroaches. but i loved the neighborhood. so this house is in the same neighborhood, but everything in it is remodeled! the house was built in 1860, but the landlord put in all new hardwood, paint, windows, appliances (including dishwasher and w/d which are pretty much nonexistent in new orleans homes)- it is beautiful. 

so i left new orleans saturday around 2:30 with a new job and place to live- i move monday! the hardest parts were telling my principal here and telling my parents, but both went well. fort worth is great- my school was great- but new orleans, well there's just something about it. i feel happier there than anywhere else. and i feel with a decent income, nice place to live, and more responsible outlook, it will be a great new chapter. i really do want to find something that makes me happy that i can stick with and be successful in. here's to hoping!

love you all

life one day at a time

so, obviously it's been forever since i've updated my blog. sometimes i forget i have a blog! life has been moving so quickly that it would take a daily update, really. so here's where i'm at right now: new orleans. i came down last friday (july 3) and was going to leave on sunday, yet here i am still. i have had an incredible time, and it seems as though every time i come back, i never want to leave. i've caught up with my dear friends, volunteered with habitat, eaten some amazing food, drank some delicious drinks, jogged in the rain, seen some great local jazz music, snuck in to the hilton to lay out at the pool (may do that again today)...you name it. and all the while i keep thinking how wonderful it is to not own a house anymore- no responsibility back at home. it truly is like a vacation! life has been quite a mystery to me lately, and i've stressed way more than necessary or healthy, and i think that's why coming down here has been so sweet as well. new orleans, although in the past has caused some struggles for me, overall is my sanctuary, my refuge. fort worth, i am coming back to you this week, but for now, new orleans, mon amour. 

hope everyone is well. i know pictures are more fun than words, so i will try to find some i can upload. my new orleans pics are still in my camera, unable to be uploaded till i come home, but no worries! here are good ones from brynlee's birthday- the cutest little girl in the whole wide world! and my pretty sister. :) love much and take care-

 

panama

well during my spring break 2 weeks ago i went to panama to visit my friend, pete, who is in the peace corps. we spent a little time in his community, then a couple days at the beach and ended the trip in the city. it was so amazing getting to see his community- they have no electricity and everything is very simple as far as agriculture and living. the people have thatched roof homes with either bamboo walls or adobe walls, mostly. there are pigs, chickens, and dogs alike just wandering in and out of houses! the people were sooo hospitable. pete's project is to teach them how to use latrines to turn their human waste into rich soil for crops because much of the soil in panama is overworked and eroded away. the beach was beautiful and relaxing. i got to see the panama canal, some towns along the way (i rented a car), and got to experience some discotecas and great panamanian music. :) it was such a quick trip and really made an impact on me. i was so proud of pete and all he is doing in his community- he loves it. it was the greatest spring break ever!! :) here are some pics-

1) beach in farallon, panama

2) sharpening the machete pete sent home with me...so far i've used it to chop some weeds in my backyard!

3) pete and i at beach

4) panama canal

5) i didn't realize how hilly and dry panama is. pete lives up in the hills, and it is really pretty driving up there

quick update

just an update to say that i got in to the ft. worth junior league and am really excited about that. i am debating about going to new orleans for a bit of mardi gras...it's my second favorite holiday (first is christmas), and i figure while i still have friends that live down there, it would be a good time had by all. i am going to panama over spring break to visit my dear friend, pete, who is in the peace corps. i will get to see how he lives in his village and then check out the beach scenery as well. :) school's moving at lightning speed- i feel like there's always more to teach and do that i run out of time for! 

we had an ice day a couple weeks ago, so here's a shot of that. hope everyone is well. love much and cheers!

Happy New Year!

I hope the new year finds everyone well- i know it has gotten off to a wonderful, refreshing start for me. i brought in the new year in my favorite place in the whole wide world, new orleans, of course. it was absolutely amazing getting to see dear habitat friends, most of whom have spread across to all parts of the country in all walks of life, be it school or career -focused. i returned to texas on a very early flight after a very late night out, made a couple new years' resolutions, and so far have been able to work on them successfully. :) school has been going very well- i constantly feel blessed to work where i do. i love my students and get to work with some pretty cool people as well. something i am pursuing and should know about within the next couple weeks is the fort worth junior league. i have always heard positive things about the junior league in general and figured it would be a great way to meet new people and get involved in the community. so expect an update on that in a few weeks. i also have decided to get back into running- i didn't realize how quickly i could lose the ability to run 7 miles! plus i don't think the holiday season of food and festivities helped too much. so one of my friends was telling me about the cowtown 10k i think at the end of february, and maybe i will build up to it again. there's just something so satisfying about building up to a goal. one of these days i think i will try a half marathon, but i've got a loooong way to go before that! well i guess i could go on about more things, but i think instead i will post some pics from the trip to new orleans.

the last is of jackson square- i love it- it's so picturesque, complete with horse-drawn carriages in front. the second is of one of my favorite little stores in new orleans- the flag shop! and the first is of my dear friend jackie, also a former habitater; we'd been planning this trip for months! we had an amazing time. :)

 i hope everyone's year has gotten off to a great start! love much and cheers-  

happy holidays!

well it is official: we are on christmas break! i am so pumped because that means family togetherness and new years new orleans '09! it also signifies the completion of my first half of a year of teaching in texas again- i have enjoyed it immensely. i have the most amazing students! i think i always say that, regardless of what school i am at, but it's so true! 

i don't have much to update, but i'd like to take the opportunity to send christmas wishes everyone's way and a very happy new year to you all as well. cheers!

turkey trot

well after karla and i did the 5k, i decided i wanted to do the turkey trot 10k. so i build up to it for several months, and on thanksgiving morning, dad and mom came to support me running the turkey trot! the weather was perfect, and the run was great. it was very hilly! it was about 6.2 miles...apparently not all 10k's are created equal, because i believe the dallas turkey trot was around 7 miles. anyways, it was pretty cool, so here's 2 pictures from that. oops i meant to post them in a different order- the one where i look cold is before (it was cold!), and the one where i am sweaty and smiling is after (it got warm!) 

life is going well- school's good, the house is good, it's cool living close to the fam again. i am meeting up with some habitat friends over new years in new orleans, so i am very pumped for that! i am ready for christmas break! :) i hope everyone is doing great- grandpa if you read this, i can't wait to see you when you come down for christmas! 

much love and cheers-